OBITUARIES

Mrs. Diggs was born in West Virginia. She settled in Washington as a young woman and was a cosmetologist in her early years here.

Later, she graduated from D.C. Teachers College and received a master's degree in reading at Jersey City State College. In 1962, she began her teaching career at River Terrace Elementary School. She retired in 1975 as a reading specialist for the D.C. public school system.

Her marriage to Walton O. Breckenridge ended in divorce.

Her second husband, the Rev. Hyason V.C. Diggs, died in 1962.

Survivors include two children from her first marriage, Walton J. Breckenridge of Temple Hills and India B. Tucker of Washington; a son from her second marriage, Charles Diggs of Boston; a sister, Mary V. Inman of Clinton; two brothers, Herman W. and William C. Johns, both of Columbus, Ohio; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Leroy C. Blankenship

Microbiologist

Leroy C. Blankenship, 68, an Agriculture Department microbiologist who specialized in poultry processing research, died Dec. 17 of internal injuries suffered in an accidental fall at his home in Athens, Ga.

Dr. Blankenship was a native of Washington. He was a graduate of Anacostia High School and the University of Maryland, where he also received a doctorate in microbiology. He served in the Air Force.

Dr. Blankenship worked for the Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville before moving to Georgia in 1972 to work for the Russell Research Center there. He retired in 1993. He also taught at the University of Georgia.

Survivors include his wife, Josephine "Judy" Marie Yeager Blankenship of Athens; four sons; his stepmother; and nine grandchildren.

Alberta 'Billie' Reynolds

Communications Official

Alberta H. "Billie" Reynolds, 84, who retired from the American Red Cross headquarters in 1980 as an assistant director of the communications and reporting division, died of congestive heart failure Dec. 29 at her home in Reston.

Mrs. Reynolds was a native of Somersworth, N.H., and a graduate of Pembroke College of Brown University. She was a buyer for Jordan Marsh Co. in Boston before World War II. She served in the Army during the war, and was staff director in the office of the quartermaster general.

In the 1960s, she taught high school English in New Hampshire and directed Red Cross field offices and was an administrative secretary in New England. She was a saleswoman at the Chevy Chase Woodward & Lothrop store in the early 1970s before returning to work for the Red Cross.

Her marriage to Eliot Reynolds ended in divorce.

Survivors include three daughters, Nancy R. Bollini of Oakton, Deborah Reynolds of Reston and Robin Reynolds of Herndon; and two grandsons.